Visible shift binder for record sheets or the like



E. F. BROWN 2,005,968

VISIBLE SHIFT BINDER FOR RECORD SHEETS OR THE LIKE June 25, 1935.

Filed 001;. 6, 1935 INVENTOR. E- F ERnwN ATTORNEY.

Patented June 25, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VISIBLE SHIFT BINDER FOR RECORD 9 Claims.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a visible shift binder for record sheets or the like that permits the removal and insertion of the individual sheets and. provides a means for compensating for that removal or insertion.

A further object of this invention is to provide a visible shift binder for accounting books or the like using visible record forms which permits the. ready removal and insertion of pages and which will tend to center itself in its neutral position after the operation is completed.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a variable binder for accounting books that allows the forms, which are on that side of the book not being used for the purpose of insertion or removal of sheets, to equalize themselves on their means of support to prevent them from piling up on that means of support and becoming detached.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a binder for accounting books that will accommodate short sheets of paper and prevent them from becoming detached from the binder and which when open may be retained in an open position to facilitate the operation of removing records from the binder.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a variable binder for accounting books or the like that is economical in manufacture, durable in use, and efficient in operation.

These and. other objects will be apparent to those skilled inthe art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated. are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my device ready for use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of my device taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side View of a portion of the stationary center piece of my device and further illustrates Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side-sectional view of the retaining tine support showing its interior construction.

The disadvantages of many binders now on the market are that there is no efficient means provided to compensate for the removal or insertion of additional record sheets without removing all of the sheets from their supporting tines and then replacing them in the binder in their proper order. This procedure is very clumsy and inefiicient. Many other binders that provide-for insertion or removal of record sheets are so bulkyand complicated as to be of no advantage over the previous method. Furthermore, in these devices no means are provided to return the tines to their normal or centered position after record sheets have been removed.

Many of the binders now on the market provide no way of allowing the record sheets on the side of the binder opposite from which the record sheetsare removed or inserted to equalize themselves by rotating their supporting tines in proportion to the weight and number of sheets on that side of the binder. The lack of an equalizing means causes the sheets to pile up over thearc of the tines and become detached or torn when the binder is in an open position to receive additional sheets. V

I have overcome such disadvantages in my device by providing a simple means of compensation for those record sheets removed or inserted in my binder. I have also provided that when the tines are closed they may be locked securely in that position and when they are unlocked for the purpose of changing record sheets, the tines on that side of the binder that is not in use are free to rotate and equalize themselves, depending upon the number of sheets on that side of the binder. v V

Referring to the drawing; I have used the numeral ID to designate thebase member or housing of my binder mechanism open at its top and having hinged thereto at each side respectively, the ordinary covers Hand I2. Permanently and rigidly secured in the housing I0 is a locking bar I3 having cut-near its center horizontal lug receiving slots I4, I 5, and I6 and a section cut out of its length to form a slot passageway transversely of its longitudinal axis which I have designated by the numeral II. Rotatably and slidably mounted on a shaft I8 which is secured in and to the housing I 0 is a manually operated tine support I9 positioned to the right of the bar I3 and having its longitudinal axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bar I3. Rigidly secured to the support I9 is a series of long parallel arcuate tines 25. Also rigidly secured to the support I9 and alternated between each of the long arcuate tines 20 are short arcuate supporting'tines 2| upon which may be mounted the usual recordiorms 22, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Pivotally secured to the tine support I9 is a locking member 23 which has a lug formed thereon which engages in a channel groove 24 in the locking bar I3, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l of the drawing, and which has its outward end bent upwardly to form a handle member to facilitate the operation of the lock. Rigidly secured to the tine support I9 is an engaging rod or catch element 25 designed to selectively engage the slots I4, I5, or IE. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 36 in the housing I0 and having its longitudinal axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the locking bar it and the operating tine support 19, is another tine support 26 positioned to the left of the bar it and having mounted thereon a series of large parallel tine members it and spaced between these large tine members 2? are the small tine members 23. The large tines 2? are positioned in a line with the short tines 2i and the small tines 23 are in a line with the large tines 2E3. Permanently secured to the tine support 25 is a locking finger 29 designed to pass completely through the slot ii in the bar 43 and under the tine support it, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. This locking finger 29also serves the purpose of rotatably elevating the member I!) when the member 26 is rotated to an elevated position. Permanently secured to the rigid bar !3 is an elevated stop support 3% which hasformed thereon a projection capa le of one gaging the rod 25. I have used the numeral 3i to designate a centering spring inside of the tine support is having one end engaging the support and its other end engaging a lug 32 formed on the shaft l8. Similarly, at the other end of the operating support 5 e is another centering spring imposed between the inside end of the operating tine support it and a lug 3Q rigidly formed on the shaft it. I have used the numeral 35 to designate a small compression spring permanently secured to one of the end portions of the housing iii capable of being engaged by the support it! and which facilitates the utilization of the stop support 3%.

The practical operation of my device is as follows: When it is desired to place the usual visible record sheets in the binder the locking lug on the member 23 is moved out of engagement with the member l3 and the operating tine support is rotated away from the member 53. If there are sheets or forms on the tines 2i and 28 their weight will cause the member 26, which has had its locking bar 29 released from engagement with the bottom of'the tine support is, to rotate. This open position is illustrated'by dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing. 7 The member it is then moved along the shaft against the pressure of the centering spring 3! and thence against the pressure of the compression spring 35 until the rod 25 rides over and comes to rest on the stop support 30- and against the projection formed thereon. This projection prevents the springs from returning the support i 9 to center and as the projection is of an elevated nature the tine support will be in an open position and the tines are then in position ready to receive the forms. The visible record'forms are then placed on the tines in progression so that a small portion of the lower edge of each of the record sheets is visible. When the forms have been placed on the tines 2t and 2! in their proper positions the rod 25 is moved up over and out of engagement with the stop support 3% and the action of the two centering springs SI and 33 working against each other will center the support 99 with the rod 25 over the slot i5, after which the support'is rotated to a position where the locking lug on the member 23 may be secured inthe groove 2 in the stationary member is. The slot if: has its upper walls beveled to facilitate and guide the insertion of the rod 25 therein. If it is desired to remove a sheet or form from the binder the forms above that sheet to be removed are transferred or turned onto the tines ,2? and 28. The tines are then opened in the same manner as herebefore described and the desired form removed. The tine support 19 is then rotated until the rod 25 is out of engagement with the projection on the stop support 30 and then shifted along its longitudinal axis until the rod 25 is over the-slot M. The rod 25 is then engaged in the slot H! and the. binder looked as before.

This action has omitted one space and is highly necessary in bookkeeping. The forms that had been transferred to the tines 2'5 and 28 are then returned to their position on the tines 20 and 2! and the record is continuous, there being no gap left by the absence of the form removed. The binder may then be unlocked and the rod 25 returned to its normal position in the slot i5 and the action locked. Similarly, if it is desired to add or insert another form or sheet the forms above the place where. the new form is tobe placed are transferred from the tines 2E and 2! to the tines 2? and 28. The binder is then opened, the form inserted and the rod 25 is placed into the slot it; and the binder closed and locked. This action creates an additional space for the added form. The forms on the tines 27 and 28 are then brought baclrto the tinesZii and 2E and then the rod 25 is returned to engagement with the slot i5. When moving the tine support win the direction for the insertion of a form it is moved until the end of the support comes in contact with the compression spring. The rod 25 is then over the slot it. If it is desired to place the rod against the stop support the member i8 is then pushed against the compression spring 35 until the rod is engaged in its proper position.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have created a new compact and efficient visible shift binder fo record sheets that has a high degree of utility and is simple in its construction and operation. My visible shift binder allows every movement to be visualized and attained with the least amount of physical effort and elementary mechanical skill" In the manufacture of my device the distance between the slots is, 5, and H5 should be such that the attaching holes of the-record sheets will properly align at all times with the tine members. The words in and out may beimposed on the bar for purposes of instruction to those unfamiliar in the useof my device.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my improved visible shift binder for record sheets or the like without de parting from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure crust: of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described a binder designed to house visible record sheets, a tine sup-- port rotatably and slidably mounted on said binder, a series of comparatively long supporting tines spaced apart on said tine support, a series of comparatively short supporting tines spaced apart on said tine support and alternated between said long supporting tines, a second tine support rotatablymountedin said binder and parallel with said first-mentioned tine support, a series of comparatively long supporting tines secured to said second-mentioned tine support and designed to be parallel and in line with the short supporting tines on said first-mentioned support, a series of comparatively short supporting tines on said second tine support alternated between said long supporting tines and parallel and in line with the long. supporting-tines of said first-mentionedsupport, a means for facilitating the sliding of said first-mentioned support in a parallel line with the longitudinal axis of said second-mentioned support, and a means for locking said first-mentioned support to said second-mentioned support when not in operation.

2. In a device of the class described, a visible shift binder comprising a housing of substantial depth, width and length, a bar secured in the center of said housing and extending the longitudinal length of the same, a series of slot openings in said bar, a second bar rotatably and slidably mounted in said housing parallel with said first-mentioned bar and having thereon tines for retaining visible record sheets; said second bar being of a length less than the length of the binder housing, a lug on said second-mentioned bar capable of engagement with any one of the slots in said first-mentioned bar, a means for locking said second-mentioned bar to said firstmentioned bar, tension members operatively secured to said second-mentioned bar for yieldingly holding said second-mentioned bar in a predetermined position of its sliding movement, a means for holding said second-mentioned bar in an open position at times, a third bar parallel with said first-mentioned bar and said second-mentioned bar and rotatably mounted in said housing, and a series of retaining tines secured to said third-mentioned bar.

3. In a device of the class described, a base member, a bar member rigidly secured to said base member, a plurality of spaced apart slots in said bar member, a supporting member rotatably and slidably secured to saidbase member and positioned at one side of said bar member, a second supporting member rotatably mounted on said base member and positioned at the other side of said bar member, a plurality of tine members on each of said supporting members, and a catch element secured to saidfirst-mentioned supporting member capable of selectively entering and engaging each of said slots.

4. In a device of the class described, a base member, a bar member rigidly secured to said base member, a plurality of spaced apart slots in said bar member one of which has its entering edges beveled, a supporting member rotatably and slidably secured to said base member and positioned at one side of said bar member, a second supporting member rotatably mounted on said base member and positioned at the other side of said bar member, a plurality of tine members on each of said supporting members, and a catch element secured to said first-mentioned supporting member capable of selectively entering and engaging each of said slots.

5. In a device of the class described, a housing having substantial length, width and depth, cover members hingedly secured to each side of said housing and extending its longitudinal length, a tine supporting member rotatably and slidably mounted in said housing and of a length less than the inside length of said housing, a second tine supporting member rotatably mounted in said housing, a stationary bar extending the longitudinal length of said housing and positioned between the said first-mentioned tine supporting member and the said second-mentioned tine supporting member, a lug formed on said first-mentioned tine supporting member, a series of spaced apart and parallel slots out in said stationary bar at right angles to its longitudinal length designed to receive the lug formed on said first-mentioned tine supporting member, and a means for looking said first-mentioned bar, said second-mentioned bar, and said stationary bar in rigid alignment including a finger formed on said secondmentioned tine supporting member and extending toward said first-mentioned supporting member and capable of being engaged by the same when said first-mentioned supporting member is in a lowered position.

6. In a device of the class described, a base member, a bar member rigidly secured to said base member, a plurality of spaced apart slots in said bar member, a supporting member rotatably and slidably secured to said base member and positioned at one side of said bar member, a second supporting member rotatably mounted on said base member and positioned at the other side of said bar member, a plurality of tine members on each of said supporting members, a catch element secured to said first-mentioned supporting member capable of selectively entering and engaging each of said slots, a finger formed on said second supporting member capable of engagement with said first-mentioned supporting member, and a means for locking said bar, said first-mentioned supporting member, and said second-mentioned supporting member in rigid alignment at times.

7. In a device of the class described, a binder housing, a supporting member rotatably mounted in said housing, a second supporting member rotatably and slidably mounted in said housing, arcuate tines on each of said supporting members, a finger secured to said first-mentioned supporting member and extending toward and under said second-mentioned supporting member, and a means for locking said second supporting member against movement relative to said housing.

8. In a device of the class described, a bar member, a plurality of spaced apart slots in said bar member, a supporting member operatively rotatably and slidably mounted at one side of said bar member, a second supporting member operatively rotatably mounted at the other side of said bar member, a plurality of tine members on each of said supporting members, an engaging element secured to said first-mentioned supporting member capable of selectively entering and engaging each of said slots, and a means for locking said first-mentioned supporting member to said second-mentioned supporting member and to said bar member at times.

9. In a device of the class described, a binder housing, a bar member secured to said housing, a supporting member rotatably and slidably secured to said housing and positioned at the right of said bar member, a second supporting member rotatably mounted on said binder housing and positioned at the left side of said bar member, a plurality of tine members on each of said supporting members, a slot opening in said bar member, a finger element secured to said second-mentioned supporting member capable of extending through said slot opening and under said first-mentioned supporting member, and a means for locking said first-mentioned supporting member to said bar member.

ERIC F. BROWN. 

